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Sounds more like the non-European Union.

Many thanks for providing a long-awaited and current report on Prince. Encouraged to hear this legendary venue is living up to its reputation. While other crowd pleases like Hero have left the scene, Prince endures.

From Global Construction Review Cambodia will start work this year on a controversial plan to dig a 180km canal to link Phnom Penh to the sea, The Star newspaper reports. The Funan Techo canal, which is expected to cost $1.7bn, will link the capital to the country’s only deepwater port at Sihanoukville and a new port at Kampot. China Road and Bridge Corporation, a subsidiary of China Communications, will build it over four years. Wesley Holzer, a public diplomacy officer at the US embassy in Phnom Penh, said the Cambodian people, along with people in neighbouring countries, would “benefit from transparency on any major undertaking with potential implications for regional water management, agricultural sustainability, and security”. Vietnam has expressed concern about the impact of the canal on the fragile ecology of the Mekong basin and is also reported to be concerned that it will allow Chinese navy ships to approach its territory.

From Pattaya News The brand new Pattaya beachfront market, Chang Beach Street Food, is throwing a splashy Songkran party to celebrate its grand opening! Chang Beach Street Food is a new Thai-styled market in the vibrant city of Pattaya, offering over 200 shop booths overflowing with delicious food and unique finds. The market is situated near Pattaya Soi 6, and it is open everyday from 4:00 PM to midnight, with ample parking to ease your visit. From April 17th to 19th, the market will also host a special three-day event called “STAR WATER Songkran Party” to celebrate its grand opening. This event features featuring more than 10 of Thailand’s top artists and DJs taking the stage. Tickets for the event are 100 baht, with gates opening at 6:00 PM each night.

From Thai PBS World After the 250 junta-appointed senators complete their five-year term on May 10, they will be replaced by a 200-member Senate elected from thousands of candidates via a complex voting system that excludes full public participation. Over 210,000 people have informed the Election Commission (EC) that they wish to run for election to the Senate, and the EC expects at least 100,000 candidates to contest. However, the six rounds of voting required – two each at the district, provincial and national levels – means all 200 seats in the Upper House will not be filled until mid-July. Critics describe the selection system as defined in the 2018 Organic Act on the Acquisition of Senators as “the most complicated in the world”. They say that without a national election by all eligible voters, the system will end up selecting senators who represent the applicants rather than the respective occupational groups as intended by the Constitution drafters. In the interim, the current senators – who are prohibited by the Constitution from seeking another term – will take caretaker roles after their term expires, although they can no longer vote with MPs to select a new prime minister. Under the current Constitution, in force since April 2017, the Senate consists of 200 members selected by and among “persons having the knowledge, expertise, experience, profession, or characteristics or common interests or working or having worked in varied areas of the society”. However, the charter’s transitory provisions state that during the first five years of the first Parliament, the Senate shall comprise 250 members appointed by the King upon the advice of the junta National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). Continues at https://www.thaipbsworld.com/a-guide-to-thailands-next-senate-and-the-most-complicated-election-in-the-world/

From Thai PBS World Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will step down next month and his deputy Lawrence Wong will take over, the second non-member of the Lee family to lead the wealthy nation. “I will relinquish my role as Prime Minister on 15 May 2024 and DPM (Deputy Prime Minister) Lawrence Wong will be sworn in as the next Prime Minister on the same day,” Lee said on social media on Monday. Wong, who is also the finance minister, was chosen as Lee’s heir-apparent in 2022 from a new generation of lawmakers from the People’s Action Party (PAP) which has ruled uninterrupted since independence in 1965. “I accept this responsibility with humility and a deep sense of duty. I pledge to give you my all in this undertaking,” Wong said on social media. The 51-year-old, US-educated economist is widely seen as a social media-savvy stalwart who effectively handled the Covid-19 crisis when he oversaw the government’s pandemic taskforce.

From Thai PBS World Deputy National Police chief Pol General Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn sounds surprisingly cheerful given that his high-flying career has just plunged into another crisis. It’s as if he were trying to prove he is the proverbial cat with nine lives. “I wish everyone a safe return to their home provinces for happy meals with their family during Songkran … Happy Thai New Year,” he wrote recently on Facebook. Last month, Surachate was transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister along with National Police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol after a dispute erupted between Thailand’s top two cops. The transfer order, signed by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin last month, declared that their hostility threatened to escalate and undermine public trust in the police force. The conflict has been escalating since last September when Torsak beat competition from the more senior Surachate (counting from the number of years since becoming a superintendent) to be named the new national police chief Surachate had been a strong contender for the top post in the Royal Thai Police (RTP). But just days before the appointment was made, armed policemen raided Surachate’s house in Bangkok over online gambling allegations. Many observers believe the raid was timed to shatter Surachate’s chance of rising to the top. Born to a junior policeman, Surachate grew up in the deep South province of Songkhla. As a teenager, he enrolled in the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School’s Class 31 where his name was inscribed on the school’s plaque for impeccable behavior and sports performances. After graduating, he joined the Royal Police Cadet Academy’s (RPCA) Class 47. Surachate was the shining star of RPCA Class 47 alumni, rising quickly through the police ranks. After being appointed deputy inspector at the age of just 24, he rose to inspector at 30, deputy superintendent at 34 and superintendent at 38. Aged 42, he became the deputy commander of Songkhla police. He simultaneously led a forward command overseeing four insurgency-hit border districts, which earned him bonus years on his service record – a privilege preserved for officers in the insurgency-hit southern border provinces. The extra years of service helped secure his meteoric rise at a relatively young age. Surachate had not even celebrated his 45th birthday when he won a promotion to the rank of major general. Then in 2018, at the age of 48, he was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed chief of the Immigration Bureau. He also doubled as head of the Police Cyber Taskforce, handing him the authority to investigate cases across Thailand. High-profile cases and the press conferences that accompanied them saw Surachate quickly rise to national prominence. His recent transfer, however, is not the first blow he has suffered. Surachate has experienced similar if not worse setbacks in his career before. Back in 2019, then-prime minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha not only removed him from his police role but also shunted Surachate from the force altogether, transferring him into the civil service. Surachate filed a complaint against Prayut’s transfer order with the Central Administrative Court but lost the case. Many believed back then that his police career was over, but he defied expectations by returning to the RTP in grand style in 2021. Three years ago, Surachate was appointed to a new post on the same level as assistant national police chief that seemed created especially for his return. He managed to rebuild his police and public profile effectively and was promoted to the post of deputy national police chief, apparently on track for the top job. But disaster struck when he was implicated in an online gambling scandal. Continues at https://www.thaipbsworld.com/surachate-hakparn-the-rollercoaster-career-of-thailands-most-famous-policeman/

"Reminiscences of the past are best avoided and what is required is a quick look and a quiet turn away." John Mortimer, Rumpole of the Bailey

....and massage shops provide the water, and often other nourishment.

Judging by the trucks and jeeps, I agree.

From Wikipedia Trump University (also known as the Trump Wealth Institute and Trump Entrepreneur Initiative LLC) was an American company that ran a real estate training program from 2005 to 2010. It was owned and operated by The Trump Organization. A separate organization, Trump Institute, was licensed by Trump University but not owned by The Trump Organization. In 2011, amid multiple investigations, lawsuits and student complaints, it ceased operations. It was founded in 2004 by Donald Trump, who was U.S. president from 2017 to 2021, and his associates Michael Sexton and Jonathan Spitalny. The company offered courses in real estate, asset management, entrepreneurship, and wealth creation. Despite its name, the organization was not an accredited university or college. It conducted three- and five-day seminars (often called "retreats") and used high-pressure tactics to sell them to its customers. It did not confer college credit, grant degrees, or grade its students. In 2011, the company became the subject of an inquiry by the New York Attorney General's office for illegal business practices, which resulted in a lawsuit filed in August 2013. An article in the National Review called the organization a "massive scam".] Trump University was also the subject of two class actions in federal court. The lawsuits centered around allegations that Trump University defrauded its students by using misleading marketing practices and engaging in aggressive sales tactics. The company and the lawsuits against it received renewed interest due to Trump's candidacy in the 2016 presidential election. Despite repeatedly insisting he would not settle, Trump settled all three lawsuits in November 2016 for a total of $25 million after being elected president.

Have yet to encounter shop in Bangkok without AC. Most shops don't open before 11 but usually remain open until midnight in Silom area and often later in Saphan Kwai. Comfort supplied by the masseurs. 🙂 Avoid outdoor activities between 11 and 4. Early morning and Twilight good time for walking parks. The bars don't open until after dark so no problem there. Siam Paragon, Icon Siam and Central World are all great malls but my favorite has become Samyan Mitrtown. Besides the great stores and food offerings, there's an observation deck and discount cinema. It's adjacent to a major university so the people watching is guaranteed to be fun. Just one stop away from Silom MRT station. https://www.samyan-mitrtown.com/en/

From CNBC International travel roared back last year, pushing airports from London to Tokyo up in a global ranking of passenger traffic. Dubai International Airport ranked as the second busiest in 2023, up from fifth place in 2022 and fourth place in 2019, according to Airports Council International’s preliminary ranking, which was released on Monday. Passenger traffic to Tokyo Haneda International Airport jumped 55% last year from 2022, and the airport ranked fifth, up from 16th place a year earlier. Global airports served 8.5 billion passengers last year, up 27% from 2022 but still about 6% below pre-pandemic counts, ACI said, citing preliminary figures. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Delta Air Lines ’ biggest hub, once again topped the list of the busiest airports, serving 104.7 million passengers, ACI said. Here are the 2023 rankings (with 2022 rankings in parentheses): Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (1) Dubai International Airport (5) Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (2) London Heathrow (8) Tokyo Haneda International Airport (16) Denver International Airport (3) Istanbul Airport (7) Los Angeles International Airport (6) Chicago O’Hare International Airport (4) New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (9)

From CNBC Trump Media shares plunge after company files to issue additional DJT stock plunged more than 17% in premarket trading Monday after the company filed to issue millions of additional shares of stock. Trump Media’s dramatic slide came as Donald Trump headed to a Manhattan court to begin jury selection for his criminal trial on hush money-related charges. Trump is the majority stakeholder in the company. Trump Media, which created the Truth Social app and trades under the stock ticker DJT on the Nasdaq, fell nearly 20% last week.

From Pattaya Mail In a concerted effort to safeguard public safety amid the Songkran festivities, the Policy and Planning Division of the Pattaya Municipal Administration has launched a proactive campaign to convey a critical message: the strict prohibition of high-pressure water guns, commonly known as PVC pipe-guns. Security teams are taking to the streets to disseminate this urgent warning, emphasizing the inherent dangers associated with the sale and usage of these banned water guns. The force generated by high-pressure water guns poses a grave risk, capable of causing serious injuries upon impact, particularly to the delicate organs such as the eyes, potentially leading to irreversible blindness. Moreover, these prohibited devices pose significant hazards to motorcyclists navigating the city’s thoroughfares.

From The Nation The body of a foreign tourist who dropped a water pistol in the Saen Saep canal and jumped in to retrieve it was recovered on Sunday evening. On Sunday at 7 pm, authorities received a report of a missing person near Pratunam Pier along Khlong Saen Saep. They collaborated with a water rescue team and forensic doctors from Ramathibodi Hospital to investigate. The incident occurred at the Khlong Saen Saep Pier, under the Chalerm Lok Bridge. The water rescue team swiftly located the deceased male shortly after arriving. Initial findings suggest that the victim, a foreigner visiting Thailand for the Songkran festival, lost his water gun in the canal and drowned while trying to retrieve it. Witnesses, among them other tourists, attempted to intervene but were unable to come to his rescue, but promptly alerted authorities to ask for assistance. The precise cause of the incident is currently under investigation. The foreigner has yet to be named. ================== In another incident, the Bagnkok Post reports that a 54-year-old man from Japan fell to is death from his seventh floor hotel room in the Lumpinee district Monday.

From Reuters A general view of the department store Kaufhaus des Westens "KaDeWe" in Berlin, Germany January 29, 2024. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo © Thomson Reuters DUESSELDORF (Reuters) -Thai retailer Central Group has acquired the landmark KaDeWe property in central Berlin from the insolvent Austrian company Signa in what it said was another step towards buying the group. Central said in a statement on Friday that it was optimistic about talks to acquire the entire KaDeWe Group, which includes Alsterhaus in Hamburg, and Oberpollinger in Munich. The Thai retailer already holds a 50.1% majority stake in the group. "The acquisition of the KaDeWe building is the first important milestone for us in the attempt to restore and restructure the KaDeWe Group operating company towards a sustainable, financially viable business," said Vittorio Radice, board member of Central Group Europe, in a statement. The purchase price for the building, a popular tourist destination in Berlin, was reported by the German business daily Handelsblatt at roughly 1 billion euros ($1.07 billion). Central did not say how much it paid for the property.

Moved to Photos forum by poster

From Pattaya Mail Jeff (JJ) Michell now living in Thailand is personally working through the process of retirement as are so many Expats here in Pattaya. At the Wednesday, March 27, meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club he shared his ideas on how to deal more productively with the 4 phases of retirement – Vacation, Loss, Trial & Error, and Reinvent & Rewire. Jeff was a Fire Protection Engineer for 40+ years until retiring in August of 2022. Also, a Master Practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) & Hypnosis, he spent two years working as a life coach and giving classes in personal development. He began his presentation by laying some ground work for his talk. JJ explained how (1) Dopamine is a biological currency as it creates the desire to do, to succeed, and to create & procreate; (2) NLP is a psychological approach that focuses on the connection between neurological processes, language, and behavioral patterns learned through experience; and (3) how goals are created from End State Energy and they may shift form to the extent that there is new data to make new adjustments but in the process more energy is available. JJ then described the four phases one experiences upon retirement. The Vacation Phase mirrors the traditional honeymoon phase of retirement, where retirees enjoy newfound freedom, relaxation, and indulgence. It’s a time of exploration, travel, and leisure activities, akin to an extended vacation. This is followed by the Loss Phase, the time when retirees may grapple with feelings of loss, both tangible and intangible. Loss of identity tied to work, loss of routine, and possibly loss of social connections can be significant. It is a period of adjustment as retirees navigate the emotional impact of retirement and redefine their sense of purpose. The third phase is one of Trial and Error. During this phase retirees experiment with various activities, interests, and routines to find what brings them fulfillment and meaning in retirement. It involves a process of trial and error as retirees explore different avenues for personal growth, social engagement, and leisure pursuits. Then comes the final phase, to Reinvent and Rewire. This is when retirees actively reinvent themselves and their lifestyles to align with their evolving priorities and aspirations. They may pursue new passions, engage in lifelong learning, cultivate deeper relationships, or contribute to their communities in meaningful ways. This phase emphasizes adaptation, resilience, and continued growth as retirees embrace the opportunities that retirement offers for self-reinvention and personal fulfillment. He concluded his talk by summarizing how it all comes together, the ground work to the phases of retirement. After JJ’s presentation, MC Ren Lexander brought everyone up to date on upcoming events and then called on George Wilson to conduct the Open Forum portion of the meeting where the audience can ask questions or make comments about Expat living in Thailand, especially Pattaya. To learn more about the PCEC, visit their website at https:/pcec.club. To view a video of JJ’s presentation on the PCEC’s YouTube Channel, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4zIIO6MkOM.

Although I don't do four-hand massages, here are some things you might consider. Four-hand are standard fare at mot shops and not difficult to arrange. However, if it was me I'd follow advice from Vinapu and others. Select one guy you definitely want in the equation and ask him to suggest the other member of your team. I've spoken with a few members this year who've had four-hands at Natural Massage on Silom Soi 6 and they were quite satisfied with outcome. As for six-hand, you need a shop that has more spacious rooms. The one that first comes to mind is One Spa in Saphan Kwai. Even standard rooms are spacious with mattress on floor and ample space for guys to move about around it. And their roster certainly has the twink offerings you have in mind.

From MSN and Tik Tok An Australian wildlife protection group has lots to celebrate after they saved and rescued 16 Asiatic Black Bear cubs from a home in Luang Prabang, Laos. The group, called Free the Bears, say the home belonged to a wildlife poacher who hoped to use the cubs as fodder for a bile farm. Thankfully they found the cubs before the worst happened and have since brought the cubs somewhere where they could be safe. Life has changed overnight for the cubs, who now receive constant care and attention from local and international conservationists. According to Reuters, Free the Bears works with local communities and governments across Asia to protect the Asiatic Black Bear (or moon bear, as they are also known because of their distinctive markings), as well as sun bears, which are also at risk across Southeast Asia. But nothing could've prepared them for what they found during a raid in the house of a Chinese national last March. On the day of the raid, neighbors heard the cubs crying from within the home and called Laos police. When police arrived at the property they found the 16 bear cubs inside what appeared to be a bear bile farm scheme, a practice where bile is extracted from a bear's gallbladder to later be used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is legal to do in China, but illegal in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and other countries. Police said there was one additional cub found on the premises, but it died before authorities could remove the cubs from the home. "When we arrived at the house there were bear cubs everywhere," Fatong Yang, animal manager with the charity, told France 24. In total, they found 10 male cubs and six females. The cubs each weighed between 1.3 to four kilograms and were believed to be about two to four months old.

The Bangkok Post is reporting that sexually transmitted diseases are rising rapidly among the nation's youth. Cases of syphilis have tripled since 2028. Those in the 15-24 year-old group now account for 47% of new cases of HIV. The Disease Control Department recommends that condoms always be used. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2775464/sexually-transmitted-diseases-surge-among-young

From Thai PBS World Thailand and Vietnam have agreed to elevate their relations to comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP), according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry’s press release said yesterday that both countries would announce their upgraded ties in June when their leaders are scheduled to hold a joint cabinet retreat in Hanoi. Vietnam has established the CSP with seven countries including China, Russia, India South Korea, the US, Japan and Australia. In June, Thailand will be the eighth CSP member and the first Asean country. In addition, both sides discussed ways to promote three main areas of bilateral cooperation including trade and investment, tourism and infrastructure. On trade and investment, Sretha asked Vietnam to facilitate Thailand’s goods in transit, especially fruits, at the Vietnam-China border checkpoints. On tourism, both sides agreed to increase flight connections between the two Congress and support the “Six Countries, One Destination” scheme. On the infrastructure development, they agreed to work together to improve the infrastructure, particularly in connecting the road between Thailand, and Laos to boost trade and investment and people-to-people exchanges. Sretha is scheduled to visit Hanoi and take part in the 4th Joint Cabinet Retreat in June.

From TIME / MSN by Charlie Campbell / Phuket, Thailand It’s just past 11 p.m. on Phuket’s neon-festooned Bangla Road and revelers are out in force, though the heady atmosphere is distinctly more Sochi than Southeast Asia. TVs overhanging the sprawling beer bars show ice skating instead of soccer; Cyrillic signage proliferates; and Russian-speaking touts dispense flyers for pole-dancing clubs exclusively featuring women from former Soviet republics. “Russians, Ukrainian, Belorussian, Kazakhs,” says one tout in dark Ray Bans and a skin-tight Armani polo shirt. “We have them all here.” The war in Ukraine has entailed an incalculable human toll, while roiling markets, disrupting supply chains, and sending inflation soaring across the globe. But in Thailand, the two-year-old conflict is also having a profound social effect despite being over 4,000 miles away. While many Western nations have shut out Russian air travel in response to Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Thailand sees Russian arrivals as key to reviving its pandemic-ravaged tourism industry. In October, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin extended 90-day visas upon arrival for Russian passports, insisting in a February interview: “We’re not part of the [Ukraine] conflict. We are neutral.” Last year, Russians ranked top for tourist arrivals in Thailand from outside of Asia with 1.4 million visitors. Meanwhile, Russians were top overall on the southern resort island of Phuket, which has long been a favorite haunt. Last July, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Phuket to inaugurate a new consulate to cope with surging visitor numbers. A month later, the Phuket Tourist Association sent a delegation to St. Petersburg and Moscow seeking to court even more vacationers. In the first three months of this year, 366,095 Russians arrived at Phuket International Airport, almost double the same period of 2023 and transforming the island’s commercial and social life. (That figure doesn’t include the significant number who transferred via Thailand’s main gateway of Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok.) But while a boon for the macro economy, the influx has chafed with locals who increasingly complain that Russians are stealing jobs and upsetting cultural mores. Across Thailand, lurid headlines such as “Rabid Russian assaults police team in Phuket after going berserk at a city centre hotel” and “Russian tourist kicks pregnant Thai woman after asked to leave shoes outdoor” are both a symptom and cause of alarm. (However, transgressions involving New Zealand, Swiss, and Portuguese nationals admittedly proliferate also.) “Russia and Thailand are so different and sometimes they don’t understand Thai law and culture,” Lieut. Colonel Akachai Siri, chief inspector of Phuket Tourist Police, tells TIME. “Sometimes they break the law and they don’t recognize we have law enforcement.” Nevertheless, Thailand’s Russian incursion appears here to stay. Other than the preferential visas, sanctions on Russian air carriers and reciprocal bans on Western airlines have slashed the destinations where Russian nationals can escape their frigid winter, making already-popular Thailand an easier choice. And then there are the not inconsiderable numbers fleeing economic doldrums and a war of choice that they had no part in choosing—not least since the Kremlin has ramped up military conscription amid mounting casualties. “That was the final straw for us,” says Mark, a Russian who fled to Thailand with his boyfriend after an initial draft announcement in September 2022 and asked that TIME use a pseudonym for security. “We understood we can’t go back because anyone can be called to the army and just die in the war.” Beyond 90-day visas upon arrival, thousands are applying for one-year business or education visas. Arnold, who asked that TIME use only one name for fear of reprisals in his homeland, moved from Moscow to the Thai resort town of Hua Hin permanently last year and has noticed an increase in what are colloquially termed “relocants” fleeing the “various negative things which are going on back home.” Continues at https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/thailand-s-tourist-towns-deal-with-their-own-russian-invasion/ar-BB1lrptp

I've had different experience but only after I'd had a few massages in shop and got to know them. Developing mutual trust is the key. But agree it takes time and effort. +1